What is the DOCDB format?

The DOCDB format is an internationally recognized standard for the uniform representation of patent numbers, used in many national and international patent systems and databases.

It consists of:

• the country code (e.g., DE, US, JP)

• a numeric string without spaces or special characters

• the publication kind code (e.g., A1, B1)

Example:

• National: DE 10 2010 053 686 A1

• DOCDB: DE102010053686A1

This format ensures that patent data can be uniquely identified, compared, and processed automatically worldwide.